All Blacks eye changes against confident Wales

Victor Vito is likely to get a chance in the All Blacks run-on side against Wales. Photo / Getty Images

As Wales talk up their chances of breaking a 57-year duck against the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday, the home selectors face some tricky calls for tomorrow's team naming.

Coach Graham Henry forecast a handful of changes to his starting 15 as they left New Plymouth after a nine-try, 66-28 win over a 14-man Ireland in their season-opening test.

With a largely impressive outing behind them, Henry stated the two tests against Wales in Dunedin and Hamilton will be balanced between winning rugby and trialling hopefuls for the Tri-Nations squad to be named on June 27.

"Some of this is about playing as well as we can and some of it about giving players opportunity to prove that they should be here. There's no point picking a player in the 26 and not playing him, and not picking him for the Tri-Nations," Henry said.

"People look at it and say we made a lot of replacements (in New Plymouth) and it upset our rhythm. They may be right.

"We've got two jobs: to develop rugby players at this level and see whether they're good enough for future selection. You can't make that decision unless they play."

Henry and assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith emptied their bench before the 60-minute mark in New Plymouth, a rare luxury at test level.

It meant six debutants in all, with impressive starting trio Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley and Ben Franks joined by benchmen Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito and Aaron Cruden.

Henry's desire to eye all his playing talent means potential starts in the next fortnight for Whitelock, Vito, Cruden, Zac Guildford, Piri Weepu and Aled de Malmanche; and openings for props Tony Woodcock and Neemia Tialata, flanker Adam Thomson, and Kahui (chest) and Muliaina (calf) who played 80 and 50 minutes respectively for their Hamilton club Te Rapa on Saturday.

Henry talked up all three of his starting debutants, with Dagg and Stanley creating some interesting dilemmas with Muliana and Kahui returning.

"I thought they played well. Israel had a big game at the back, he's very talented. It looked like Benson had been there for a long time. He fitted in well, he's a smart player and he's a bit older.

"Ben has played very well at franchise level. He seems to have a quiet confidence and he played well and the guys who came off the bench all acquitted themselves well."

Wales, who suffered a 31-34 defeat to an understrength Springboks in Cardiff just over a week ago, will prepare in Wellington until Thursday when they arrive for their first, and last, test at Carisbrook.

Wales' most recent win over the All Blacks was in 1953, and the men in black have strung together 21 in a row since, including a hard-fought 19-12 victory in Cardiff in November.

Captain Ryan Jones - who starred for the Lions against Otago here in 2005 - spoke of "getting the monkey off the back" as they arrived in New Zealand, while coach Warren Gatland is sure to be building up his players' self-belief.

Said Jones: "There's no bigger mountain to climb, but that's what we're here for, to give it a damn good go. I don't think we're a team people look forward to playing any more. We can be physical and there have been some close games (against the All Blacks)."

- NZPA